Photo taken by Enrique Sabater
A diaspora is the dispersion of a group of people from their original homeland. The Puerto Rican Diaspora is a phenomenon in the act where residents leave the island in search for a more hopeful future in the United States. This has been the case for over 50 years. Around the 1940’s, a strong concentration (nine-tenths of 70,000) of the Puerto Ricans that moved to the US went to New York City. (Puerto Rico 51st, 2015) By 1960, the Puerto Rican population in the US increased to 887,000 thus forcing Puerto Ricans to spread throughout the country. (Cordeiro, 2016) (El Nuevo Dia, 2016) Immigration and emigration is normal and would not be concerning if it weren’t for the island’s population gaining an exponential decline especially in recent times. A Pew Research Center surveyed that in 2014 there was a net migration of negative 64,073. (Attanasio, 2015) Why are Puerto Ricans fleeing the island? The reasons for this diaspora are varied. In the year 1950, after two world wars and a drastic economic depression, the United States was new home for opportunity and hope.
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Why such a desperate flee over the past 10 years? Puerto Rico has been in recession since 2002 and it only got worse in 2007 forcing many to leave the island in the dust. As the educated individuals and professionals leave the island the overall unemployment increases and if less people contribute to the local economy public debt increases as a byproduct over time. (El Nuevo Dia, 2013) The politicians and chosen leaders make the false promise of success and improvement while infatuated with corruption and self-gain. The political standstill of progress and the lack of economic advancement only leaves the sentiment of irritation to the observer. This malicious cycle is what has been taking popularity over the years and has brought PR to what its economic and debt crisis is today.
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References:
1) "Puerto Rico's Diaspora - Puerto Rico 51st." Puerto Rico 51st. N.p., 2015. 2016. http://www.pr51st.com/puerto-ricos-diaspora/
2) Attanasio, Cedar. "Puerto Rico's Population Plummets Even More." Latin Times. N.p., 2015. 2016.http://www.latintimes.com/puerto-rico-immigration-island-population-loses-64000-mainland-according-census-data-347674
3) Cordeiro, Monivette. "The Exodus of Puerto Ricans to Central Florida Has given the Political Powerhouse a Body of Potential Voters, but Is It Enough to Finally Have a Voice?" Orlando Weekly. N.p., 2016. 2016. http://www.orlandoweekly.com/orlando/the-exodus-of-puerto-ricans-to-central-florida-has-given-the-political-powerhouse-a-body-of-potential-voters-but-is-it-enough-to-finally-have/Content?oid=2440840
4) "Isla Y Diáspora: Somos Un Solo Pueblo En Lucha." El Nuevo Dia. N.p., 2016. 2016. http://www.elnuevodia.com/opinion/editoriales/islaydiasporasomosunsolopuebloenlucha-editorial-2194344/
5) "Crece Con Fuerza La Diáspora Puertorriqueña." El Nuevo Dia. N.p., 2013. 2016. http://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/nota/crececonfuerzaladiasporapuertorriquena-1535594/
1) "Puerto Rico's Diaspora - Puerto Rico 51st." Puerto Rico 51st. N.p., 2015. 2016. http://www.pr51st.com/puerto-ricos-diaspora/
2) Attanasio, Cedar. "Puerto Rico's Population Plummets Even More." Latin Times. N.p., 2015. 2016.http://www.latintimes.com/puerto-rico-immigration-island-population-loses-64000-mainland-according-census-data-347674
3) Cordeiro, Monivette. "The Exodus of Puerto Ricans to Central Florida Has given the Political Powerhouse a Body of Potential Voters, but Is It Enough to Finally Have a Voice?" Orlando Weekly. N.p., 2016. 2016. http://www.orlandoweekly.com/orlando/the-exodus-of-puerto-ricans-to-central-florida-has-given-the-political-powerhouse-a-body-of-potential-voters-but-is-it-enough-to-finally-have/Content?oid=2440840
4) "Isla Y Diáspora: Somos Un Solo Pueblo En Lucha." El Nuevo Dia. N.p., 2016. 2016. http://www.elnuevodia.com/opinion/editoriales/islaydiasporasomosunsolopuebloenlucha-editorial-2194344/
5) "Crece Con Fuerza La Diáspora Puertorriqueña." El Nuevo Dia. N.p., 2013. 2016. http://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/nota/crececonfuerzaladiasporapuertorriquena-1535594/